When a 14 year old says clap and a sold out room of people of every age does so willingly, something is happening. Her name is Nikki Yanofsky and while her audience could have easily been attending a performance of Wicked, they chose to come to the Montreal Jazz Festival. And this kid is choosing to sing jazz. She sings her lungs out. Maybe not her heart, cause quite frankly at 14, she doesn’t have the right to sing the blues, but the audience didn’t care one bit. She reminded me of reading Julie Andrews writing about her life as a 12 year old phenom in England- she could hit every note, but she had years to go before she learned how to sing. I am prepared to wait.
And then I listened to an audience full of people singing happy birthday to Hank Jones who is about to turn 90 this month. Michael Bourne was with me and he has already eloquently described the Jones and Jones experience. Hank Jones and Oliver Jones treated me to an evening that I may never get to witness again. And Nikki Yanofsky gave me a clue to what I have to look forward to in the future.
But the shining star of the evening was our divine Dee Dee Bridgewater. Gutsy. Beautful. After her show, watching the line of people waiting to meet her as she signed autographs at Archambault ( the hidden gem of a media store in the Place des Artes), personified the meaning of adoring fans. Dee Dee glowed. They loved her French, her English, her spirit.
I went to three different concerts. A night of jazz in many forms. And I loved every minute of it.

Rhonda Hamilton interviewed guitarist Russell Malone yesterday.
Fortunately, Russell didn't share any of his really colorful jokes with our audience. If he did, the FCC would level some hefty fines.
He did, however, talk at length about his experience with Jimmy Smith. When Russell met the organist in Atlanta, he asked to sit in with the band. Russell played everything he knew, trying to impress Jimmy. The audience went wild. Then, Smith called a ballad, "Laura," and Russell did not know the song. That humbling experience led to an all-night lesson in music in Jimmy Smith's hotel room. Smith had played with some great guitarists, notably Kenny Burrell and Wes Montgomery. He taught Russell Malone a valuable lesson - to put himself into the music, rather than trying to emulate those guys. Listen to the interview.
-Josh

I wear the title proudly. I wear a lot of hats here at WBGO- but this is my favorite one. While I am overseeing a number of the activities here at WBGO, I am sitting in my cold dark office ( no, they don't keep me in the fruit cellar!) and pouring over stats. Man, I love this stuff. Trying to understand more about our listeners and what they like ( don't ever be shy about telling us). Finding stats for our dynamic underwriting duo to use with potential sponsors ( they are one of the components along with your membership that keeps this station on the air and on the web). Just loving the fact that this station has grown from a signal in the Newark Public Schools and has expanded to include YOU- where ever you are in the world!

I thought that I would share my new fascination:

WHERE ARE YOU?

We have all kinds of tools that tell us and I am obsessed with this stuff!

Don't worry, we don't know exactly where you are. We are not going to come and visit like the Publishers Clearinghouse guys ( sorry to disappoint you!). We can only tell kinda sorta where you are- the country, state and city. Nothing creepy. We could speak in just about any language and someone in our audience would understand the words that we were saying- but you ALL understand the music.

Did you know that the majority of you who listen online are in our terrestrial listening area?

4 of you were listening from Botswana yesterday. And 4 from the Virgin Islands.

5.1% of our US online audience yesterday was from California. And 2.6% came from Florida.

OK, so now guess. Number one place outside of the US where people were listening-

Japan.

Who are all of you? Are you expats? How did you find WBGO? Are you members ( ok, so shoot me, I had to ask!)? Share something with the rest of us about what turns you on about this music. I am going to Japan in March- where should I go to hear jazz in Tokyo?

Bottom line, you are a part of a great community, a party that goes where ever you do, whenever you want us. Thanks for joining us! And if you ever find yourself in Newark, feel free to come and visit us- we love having you.